Cylinder paper machine assembly



Oct. 21, 1958 E. D. BEACHLER CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1956 lltfif ll Oct. 21; 1958 E. D.-BEACHI .ER 2,856,825

CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed March 16, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 JIHIIHHIMH 1 THE F Edward D. Beach/er Oct. 21, 1958 D. BEACHLER 2,856,825

CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY E125 trzfcy T" Edward .D. Bead/z ler 23 aez 11 75 E. D. BEACHLER CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY Oct. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 16, 1956 Edward D. Beach ler WH r: 7 75 Oct. 21, 1958 E. D. BEACHLER 2,856,825

I CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed March 16, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Va; Edward D. Beaafz/er b L United States Patent CYLINDER PAPER MACHINE ASSEMBLY Edward D. Beachler, Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,130

8 Claims. ((31. 92-43) This invention relates to paper making machinery, and :more particularly to cylinder paper machines. Speoifically, .the invention deals with piping arrangements for cylinder type machines, and a method and apparatus for deaerating white water before mixing it with any new or recirculated stock.

A conventional cylinder paper machine includes a vat jh-aving a foraminous rotatable cylinder mold partially immersed in a quantity of stock contained in the vat. In operation, fibers are retained on the surface of the mold to form .a continuous web which is removed near the top of the mold onto an endless felt, and the water from the stock passes through the foraminous surface of the mold. Heretofore, the white water from inside of the mold is delivered downwardly to the suction end of a fan pump. The discharge from this pump :is divided into two components, one of which is fed into a screen where it is mixed with the fresh incoming stock, and the other of which is fed into the mix box where it is immediately mixed with the mixture flowing out of the screen. The combined mixtures flow by gravity from the mix box to the vat inlet. The level of the white water inside the cylinder mold is maintained by an adjustable gage located in the back ends. If recirculation is employed, the recirculated rich stock is normally fed into the suction end of the fan pump along with the white water. Thus, there is no possibility in the conventional piping arrangement for deaerating the white water alone before it is enriched. Several attempts have been made to design the mixing box which follows the screens so that it will permit some release of air before the mixture is fed to the vat inlet. However, by definition this box must be operated with sufficient turbulence to insure thorough mixing of the rich stock from the screens with the white water from the fan pump, and therefore it obviously cannot do an effective job of deaerating.

In the present invention, a cylinder paper machine is provided that includes a vat having a foraminous cylinder mold rotatable therein which coacts with a hemi-cylin- .drical vat bottom to define therewith a passageway or vat circle space through which the stock flows. Making boards are provided at each side of the vat circle space which lead to combination vat inlet-outlets that are connected to a piping arrangement. The piping arrangement is such that the vats may be run either .counterfiow or uniflow by selective operation of a control valve. A deaerating apparatus is included in the above mentioned piping arrangement that is in communication with the ends of the cylinder mold for receiving and deaerating the white water, thereby improving the quality of the paper web formed on the cylinder mold. Deaeration of the white water is accomplished before it is mixed with the fresh incoming stock.

It is well known that to make possible the effective release of air from water or a water and stock mixture, it is necessary to circulate it at low velocities in horizontal runs and when turning it into a downward direction it is Ratented Oct. 21, 1958 very desirable to have it moving at an extremely low velocity so as to avoid the formation of Whirlpools, etc. In conventional cylinder machine piping arrangements, the new stock and white water are mixed before an attempt is made to release the entrained air, and it then becomes impractical to do :a thorough job of deaerating because the rich stock mixture will flock and lump if they are moved at the very low velocities desirable for deaerating.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cylinder paper machine having a piping arrangement that permits the machine to be run either counterflow or uniflow by manipulation of asingle control means.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of .a piping arrangement for a cylinder paper machine that allows flexible operation, wherein the operator may select the particular type of operation best suited to produce varying grades of paper.

Still another object of this invention is in the provision of a paper making machine having means for deaerating the white water before it is mixed with fresh incoming stock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cylinder paper machine equipped with a deaerating apparatus for removing air from the white water before it is mixed with new or recirculated stock.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a cylinder paper machine, wherein the white water from the cylinder mold is deaerated before it is mixed with new or recirculated stock thereby greatly improving the quality of the paper formed by such a machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cylinder paper machine equpipped with a deaerating apparatus for removing air from the white water before it is mixed with new or recirculated stock.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a cylinder paper machine, wherein the white water from the cylinder mold is deaerated before it is mixed with new or recirculated stock thereby greatly improving the quality of the paper formed by such a machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cylinder paper machine equipped with a deaerating zapparatus, wherein the overflow stock that is rich in fiber is piped back into the deaerating apparatus well below its surface thereby insuring that the fiber rich stock will move directly to the fan pump and be reused rather than be thoroughly mixed with the white water whereupon some of it would be lost in the white Water overflow at the surface.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, ,taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cylinder paper machine equipped with a piping arrangement and deaerating apparatus according to the invention, with some parts in section and other parts broken away for purposes of cl ri y;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along line II-II of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the unit shown in Figure l, with some parts removed for purposes of clarity;

Figure 4 is an enlarged View, fragmentary in nature, of the single control valve employed for regulating the stock flow to and from the vat;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a cylinder paper machine equipped with a deaerating apparatus and a modified piping arrangement with some parts broken away for purposes of clarity;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the piping arrangement, with some parts broken away, taken substantially along line VIVI of Figure and Figure 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig- -ure 5 with some parts broken away for clarity purposes.

14, drivingly connected to the end of the mold 10 by a shaft 15, serves to drive the mold.

As the cylinder rotates, it will be partially immersed in a quantity of stock contained in the vat, wherein water from the stock, commonly called white water, passes through the foraminous surface of the cylinder mold 10 and leaves a web of fiber deposited thereon. This web of fiber is removed from the cylinder mold 10 near the top thereof by causing it to adhere to the underside of an endless pick-up felt 16 pressed against the cylinder mold forming surface by a couch roll 17.

White water collected on the interior of a cylinder mold 10 flows from both ends of the cylinder and the vat to collecting chambers 18 and 19. From the collecting chamber 18, the white-water flows through an elbow fitting 20 to a curvate pipe 21 leading to a deaerating tank, box or apparatus generally designated by the numeral 22. Likewise, white water leaving the collecting chamber 19 passes through a connecting fitting 23 that is in turn connected to a curvate pipe 24 which also communicates with the deaerating chamber 22.

In order to maintain the proper water levels in the vat and the deaerating tank or apparatus, the cylinder vat 11 is mounted in elevated position by steel and concrete supports 25 which rest on a concrete floor 26. Obviously, other types of supports may be employed.

As the white water enters the deaerating chamber 22 from the pipes 21 and 24, it flows upwardly through vertical passageways 27 and 28, respectively, to the surface, that is indicated by the dotted line 29 in Figure 1. The

upper part of the deaerating tank, being open, allows the surface to be exposed to the atmosphere, and it is at this point where the air in the white water is released. As shown by the arrow 30 in Figure l, the white water flows rearwardly through passages 31 and 32 defined by the side walls of the tank and upstanding partitions or mid-feathers 33 and 34 and toward the rear wall of the tank. Then as indicated by the arrows 35 in Figure 3, the white water flows around the mid-feathers to a centrally located vertical passageway 36 downwardly, as indicated by arrow 35a in Figure 1, to a bottom inclined wall 37, as seen in Figure 1, formed in a supporting structure 38 for the tank. From the vertical passageway 36 in the deaerating tank, the white water enters a line 39 leading to the suction side 40a of a fan pump 40.

It is well known that to eflectively release air from water or a water in stock mixture, it is necessary to circulate it at low velocities in horizontal runs and when turning it into a downward direction, it is very desirable to have it moving at extremely low velocities in order to avoid the formation of Whirlpools, etc. Thus, in the deaerating tank 22, the white water flows around the midfeathers 33 and 34 and downwardly through the vertical passageway 36 at a very low velocity in order to accomplish the purpose of the deaerating tank.

Excess white water flows over an adjustable gate or baffle 41 set in the front wall of the deaerating tank, and

into a collecting chamber 42. Piping 43, as seen in Figure 1, takes the water from the collecting chamber 42 and delivers it to a white water storage where it may be used in white water showers or sent to a save-all where the fibers remaining in the water can be reclaimed. As seen in Figure 3, an upstanding stabilizing or directional vane 44 is positioned at the middle of the vertical passageway 36 to divide the flow of white water and further serve to modify or eliminate any undesirable flow characteristics in the white water.

The fan pump 40 is mounted on a pedestal 40c and driven bya prime mover or motor 45 which is mounted on a pedestal 45a and drivingly connected to the fan pump by an endless belt or member 46.

As designated by the numeral 47, a stock inlet pipe is provided for introducing stock into the conduit or line 39 ahead of the fan pump suction side 40a. Since this new stock has been fully prepared, no screening is necessary after it is diluted with the white Water flowing from the deaerating tank 22. The inlet pipe 47 serves to meter the stock into the suction side of the fan pump where it is mixed with the required amount of white water and pumped through the discharge side or pressure side 40b of the pump.

As the dilute stock leaves the discharge side 40b of the fan pump 40, it passes through a throttling valve 48, a slightly upwardly inclined conduit section 49, a vertical conduit section 50, and into a four-way valve or control means, generally indicated by the numeral 51. The valve 51 is supported on a pedestal 52 directly beneath the cylinder vat 11 and serves to control the stock flow to the opposite sides of the vat.

As seen most clearly in Figure 4, the four-way valve 51, by definition, includes four openings or sides 53, 54, 55 and 56, equally spaced around its center. A vertical shaft is centrally positioned for pivotal movement and has secured thereto a butterfly valve, shown in dotted positions 58a and 58b. In controlling the flow through the valve, the butterfly valve either coacts with diametrically opposed projections or lobes 59a and 59b, 01' lobes or projections 60a and 60b.

The valve side 53 is connected to the discharge side of the fan pump 40 through conduits 49 and 50, and when the butterfly valve is in position 58b, counterflow vat operation is obtained wherein the dilute stock is directed through the control valve 51 through the valve side 54 and into an upwardly extending conduit 61 which connects into a manifold or header 62. From the manifold 62, the dilute stock passes upwardly through a plurality of butterfly valves 63 arranged to control the stock flow and into a vat inlet-outlet 64. During counterflow operation, the vat inlet-outlet 64 operates as a vat inlet. Stock then flows over an associated making board 65 and into the vat circle space 13.

After the stock travels around the vat circle space 13, contrary to the rotational movement of the mold 10 as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, a certain amount may or may not be overflowed wherein the overflow stock will pass over a making board 66 as sociated with the opposite vat inlet-outlet 67 operating in this instance as a vat outlet. This overflow stock, which is rich in fiber, passes downwardly from the vat outlet 67 through a plurality of butterfly valves 68, simllar to the butterfly valves 63, and into a manifold or header 69. The butterfly valves 68, as well as the butterfly valves 63, above the manifolds 69 and 62, respectively, are preferably gang controlled with individual adjustment. From the manifold 69 the overflow stock passes downwardly through a conduit 70 and into the valve side 56 of the control valve 51. With the butterfly valve in position 58b, the valve side 56 is in communication with the valve side 55, wherein the overflow stock passes through an upwardly sloped conduit 71 connected to the valve side 55, and into the deaerating tank 22 well below its surface in the downward pass 36 and to the suction side of the fan pump 44}. The placement of this recirculating conduit 71 insures that the fiberrich overflow stock will move directly to the fan pump and be reused rather than be thoroughly mixed with the white water whereuponsome of it would be lost in the white Water overflow at the surface.

In controlling the valve 51, as seen in Figure 1, a lever 72 is connected to a portion of the shaft 57 extending above the valve casing and is operated by the piston of an air cylinder 73. It is seen that the control valve 51 when adjusted so that the butterfly disk is in position 58b, the valve openings 53 and 54 are in communication witheach other, while the valve openings 55 and 56 are in communication with each other. This provides the above described counterflow operation of the cylinder mold 10, wherein the dilute stock passes through the vat inlet 64 and to the upturning side of the cylinder mold 10.

When it is desired to operate a uniflow type of vat, the air cylinder 73 is actuated to position the butterfly valve in the control valve 51 in position 58a, wherein valve openings 53 and 56 communicate with each other while valve openings 54 and 55 communicate with each other. Then the stock from the discharge side of the fan pump 40 flows to the vat inlet-outlet 67 through the conduit 70, the header .69 and the butterfly valves 68. The stock flow over the making board 66 to the downwturning side of the cylinder mold 10, around the vat circle space 13 and over the making board 65 to the vat inlet-outlet 6.4. The overflow stock then flows to the deaerating tank through the recirculating conduit 71, the butterfly valve 63, the header 62, the downwa-rdly extending conduit 61, and through the control valve openings 54 and 55. Thus, it is seen that counterflow or uniflow operation of the vat 11 may be accomplished by simple manipulation of the control valve 51.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, a modified piping arrangement is shown in association with the cylinder machine and the deaerating tank. Like numerals will be employed to indicate like parts wherever possible. While the deaerating tank 22 is not identical in design with the deaerating tank 22 of the first embodiment, it operates in the same manner, diflfering for the most part only in appearance; and therefore it will not be described in detail but will bear the same numeral as applied in the first embodiment.

The major difference between this embodiment and that shown in Figures 1 to 4 is that only the counterflow method of operation is available.

As the white water leaves the vat 11, it passes through return conduits 80 and 81 to the deaerating tank 22. In the deaerating tank, the water passes upwardly through the passageways 27 and 28 rearwardly through passageways 31 and 32, and around the mid-feathers 33 and 34 at a very low velocity. The air entrained in the white water is then released at the upper surface 29 and the water descends through the vertical pass 36 to an outlet conduit 82 which leads to the suction side 83a of the fan pump 83. Excess white water flows over the adjustable gate or baffle 41 and into a collection chamber 42 before flowing through a conduit 43 which leads to a white water storage.

Ahead of the suction side 83a of the fan pump, fresh stock is metered into the conduit 82 by a stock pipe 84, where it is mixed with the required amount of white water. Upon leaving the discharge side 83b of the fan pump, the white water and stock passes upwardly through a pipe 85. The flow from this pipe is divided and fed through branch conduits 86 and 87 before passing through screens 88 and 89. The stock delivered with the white water, now thoroughly mixed, flows from the screens 88 and 89 through conduits 90 and 91, respectively, to a stream flow valve 92. Any suitable type of stream flow valve may be employed, and serves the purpose of controlling the dilute stock flow entering the vat. The then thoroughly mixed and flow controlled stock moves upwardly through a conduit 93 to a header or manifold 94 for distribution to a plurality of butterfly valves 95.

The dilute stock flows from the butterfly valves 95 upwardly into the vat 11 to the upturning side of the cylinder mold 10 and flows in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of the cylinder mold around the vat circle space. Overflow stock, rich in fiber, passes downwardly at the other side of the vat through a collecting trough 96 and into a recirculating conduit. 97 which connects the conduit 82 coming from the deaerating tank 22. As in the first embodiment, this insures that the overflow stock, rich in fiber, moves directly to the fan pump for re-use rather than being mixed thoroughly with the white water and possibly being lost in the white water overflow of the deaerating tank.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cylinder paper machine comprising a vat having a hemi-cylindrical bottom, a foraminous rotatable cylinder suspended in said vat and defining a vat circle space with said bottom, a main supply line for delivering dilute stock to said vat circle space, pump means in said supply line, a branch conduit connecting said vat circle space at one side of said cylinder with said main supply line and the discharge side of said pump means, deaerating means, a second branch conduit connecting said vat circle space at the .other side of said cylinder with said deaerating means, conduits interconnecting the interior of the cylinder with said deaerating means for delivering white water thereto, a line connecting the discharge side of said deaerating means and the suction side of said pump means, and a fresh stock inlet ahead of the suction side of the pump means.

2. A cylinder paper machine comprising a vat having a hemi-cylindrical bottom, a foraminous rotatable cylinder suspended in said vat and defining a vat circle space with the bottom thereof, a main supply line for delivering stock to one end of said vat circle space, a pump in said line, a deaerating tank, a White water return line connecting said cylinder and tank, a recirculating conduit for delivering overflow stock from the other end of said vat circle space to the discharge side of said deaerating tank. a pump suction line connecting said tank and pump, and means for metering fresh stock into said pump suction line.

3. The method of forming a fibrous web from dilute stock on a cylinder mold of a cylinder paper machine comprising the steps of deaerating the white water leaving the mold before adding any fresh or recirculated stock thereto, then adding fresh and recirculated stock to the white water and mixing the stock and White water to form dilute stock, and next delivering the dilute stock to the cylinder mold.

4. In a cylinder paper machine having a cylinder mold suspended in a vat, a piping arrangement for delivering dilute stock to the vat including a deaerating box, white water return conduits connecting said cylinder mold and said box, passageways in said deaerating box capable of releasing entrained air from the White water, a discharge line for receiving the deaerated white water, a pump connected to said line, a stock inlet for feeding fresh stock to said discharge line ahead of the suction side of said pump, and a main supply line interconnecting said pump and vat for delivering dilute stock to the latter.

5. In a cylinder paper machine having a cylinder mold rotatably suspended in a vat to form a vat circle space which is supplied with a dilute stock, a deaerating tank for released entrained air from white water leaving .said mold, white water return conduits intercommunicating said mold and tank, a circulating pump, a white water line connecting said tank with the suction side of the pump, a stock inlet for metering stock into the suction side of the pump, a main supply conduit connecting the discharge side of said pump and the vat circle space at the upturning side of said mold. for delivering dilute stock thereto, and a recirculating conduit connecting the vat circle space at the downturning side of said mold with the suction side of said pump for returning overflow stock thereto.

6. A cylinder paper machine comprising a vat having a hemi-cylindrical bottom, a foraminous cylinder rotatably suspended in said vat and defining a vat circle space with the bottom thereof, a stock circulating pump, a main supply line connected to the discharge side of said pump and a recirculating line connected to the suction side of said pump, a branch conduit connected to the vat circle space at the upturning side of said cylinder, a second branch conduit connected to the vat circle space at the downturning side of said cylinder, control means interconnecting said branch conduits, main supply line and recirculating line capable of obtaining counterfiow or uniflow operation of said vat, a deaerating tank for releasing entrained air from white water having an inlet and an outlet, white Water return conduits connecting said cylinder and the inlet of said tank, a line connecting the outlet of said tank with the suction side of said pump, and a stock inlet for introducing freshly prepared stock to the white water at the suction side of the pump.

7. A cylinder paper machine comprising a vat having a hemi-cylindrical bottom, a foraminous cylinder rotatably suspended in said vat and defining a vat circle space with the bottom thereof, a stock circulating pump, a recirculating line connecting the v-at circle space at the downturning side of said cylinder with the suction side of said pump, a main supply line connecting the vat circle space at the upturning side of said cylinder with the discharge side of said pump, means conducting white Water from the cylinder interior to the suction side of said pump, a screen for mixing the stock and white water located in said main supply line, and a stream flow valve in said main supply line for controlling the stock flow.

8. A cylinder paper machine comprising a vat having a hemi-cylindrical bottom, a foraminous cylinder rotatably suspended in said vat and defining a vat circle space with the bottom thereof, a stock circulating pump, a recirculating line connecting the vat circle space at the downturning side of said cylinder with the suction side of said pump, a main supply line connecting the vat circle space at the upturning side of said cylinder with the discharge side of said pump, a screen for mixing the stock and white water located in said main supply line, and a stream flow valve in said main supply line for controlling the stock flow, a deaerating tank for releasing entrained air from white water leaving said cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, white Water return conduits connecting said cylinder and the inlet of said tank, a line connecting the outlet of said tank with the suction side of said pump, and a stock inlet for metering rich stock to the white water between the outlet of said tank and the suction side of said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Breyfogle Sept. 9, 1952 

